Page 119 of Lost Boy
Sofie giggles from her spot next to Jamie, her lime green dress strapless and floor length. The entire thing is made of sequins and glitter; as she put it, she looks like a mermaid. Her hair is intricately pulled up, tendrils escaping and framing her face.
“I thought you weren’t old, Joel? Just use the screen! I want to get to prom before they start closing down. Fallon can’t miss his performance, and Ryder’s probably prom king. Basically, we’re important people, so hurry up please, future stepfather!”
That’s another thing that just happened. Dad popped the question to Joel in San Diego at one of his new restaurants right on the marina. He closed the place down for the night, his personal assistant setting up tiny, electric tealights over the entire deck.
The chef cooked their favorite meal and Joel’s favorite dessert, strawberry shortcake, with an engagement ring resting on top.
It made my prom proposal look like child’s play. But that’s fine. Fallon enjoyed ours, and that’s all that matters.
Dad and Joel chuckle at Sofie’s antics, but Joel takes her advice and uses the camera’s screen.
“Oh, much easier. Thank you, darling. And you know I’m not old. Don’t tease me.”
Sofie is giggling, and the rest of us laugh. Even Fallon is smiling, and I know it’s going to be an amazing photo.
Jamie invited Sofie, and Cole and Gracie are currently together. The six of us coordinated to wear shades of green, and the effect looks amazing.
“Oh, Sofie! Look at my baby,” a high-pitched feminine voice squeals from the doorway.
Mom.
We’re on the back deck at my house. The lake is behind us, and the sun is almost setting. Golds and purples glow around us.
What the fuck is she doing here, and how did she know?
“Absolutely stunning, sweetie.” She walks over and stands next to Joel and Dad.
“Alejandro,” she says in a cool tone, and I’m ready to get out of here. We don’t need this on prom night. We’re here to have a good time and make good memories with good friends. At least she won’t be able to do this as soon as Dad’s full-custody case goes through the system.
“Penelope, what are you doing here?”
She huffs out an annoyed breath. “Well, obviously, I know when the senior prom is. I just didn’t expect to see my baby girl here. Looking absolutely gorgeous.”
Her green eyes travel over to me, my arm around Fallon’s lower back, and I tug him closer, making it clear what’s happening.
Her lips pinch together tightly, but she doesn’t ask me the question she knows she has no right to ask.
I put her out of her misery, not necessarily wanting to come out to my mother on prom night, but, hey, you win some, you lose some.
“Yeah. I’m gay, Mom.”
Her right eye twitches, but she doesn’t say anything too rude. But nothing too nice, either.
I’m counting it as a win.
“Are you?”
I nod, rubbing my hand up and down Fallon’s arm, her eyes honing in on the movement.
“Since when?”
“Okay, Pen, that’s enough. He doesn’t owe you any answers.”
“He’s my son, Al. I think he can at least tell me.”
“I did. I’m gay. And there’s nothing else to say, Mom. We can be cool, but you left a long time ago, and you get no say in my life or my happiness. Especially not my sexuality. So I’m going to politely say excuse me, but we have a prom to get to.”
We got enough photos, so we shoutgoodbyeto everyone, and Sofie hugs our mom on the way out.
